Liverpool0 - 2Tottenham

Tottenham beat Liverpool to leapfrog their rivals into fifth place and move a point ahead of the Merseysiders in the race for a Europa League place.

Rafael van der Vaart chested down the ball and sent a dipping 20-yard strike into the Reds net to put Spurs ahead.

Andy Carroll headed a gilt-edged chance high and was punished when Luka Modric scored a penalty for the visitors after John Flanagan's foul on Steven Pienaar.

It was a controversial decision but Spurs were good value for their win.

In the first game for Liverpool since manager Kenny Dalglish had his temporary deal turned into a three-year contract, the Reds struggled and stuttered to a first home league defeat under the Scot.

Tottenham, by contrast, put in a controlled and composed performance, which they completed with the type of end product that has been missing in recent months and has cost them repeating their top four finish of last season.

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Dalglish unconcerned by defeat

And, if Spurs manager Harry Redknapp had stated his reluctance to play in next season's Europa League because of the impact it has on a top-flight campaign, it was not matched by his players at Anfield.

Instead, it was the lacklustre home players who seemed more determined to avoid Europe's less prestigious competition.

The two teams had gone into the game travelling in opposite directions in their rollercoaster seasons, with Liverpool on an upward curve of 10 wins from 14 games and Spurs plummeting with one win from 13 outings.

But it was the visitors who quickly got into their stride and made a mockery of the statistics as they seized control of the game before they took the lead after nine minutes.

A Modric corner was only headed out to Van der Vaart and, after controlling the clearance with his chest just outside the area, the Dutchman sweetly struck the ball before it could bounce as he sent a dipping shot into the far corner.

It was a goal reminiscent of Van der Vaart's form in the first half of the season before, like Spurs, his form dipped.

In their run of one win in the last 13, playmaker Van der Vaart and strikers Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko have scored only 11 goals between them and Spurs 14 in all.

But Van der Vaart's goal at Anfield was reward for his side's fluency and fortitude, while the Reds struggled to impose themselves.

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Spurs controlled game - Redknapp

The frustration of the home side was emphasised when striker Luis Suarez flicked a kick at Spurs defender Michael Dawson and escaped with a yellow card from referee Howard Webb.

The Merseysiders belatedly and briefly raised themselves late on in the opening half when Carroll was presented with the type of chance you would expect him to put away.

Martin Skrtel clipped a cross to the far post for the powerhouse Reds forward, who mistimed his close range header horribly high.

Van der Vaart was forced off injured early in the second half before Spurs added to their lead shortly afterwards when Webb awarded a questionable penalty to the visitors for right-back Flanagan's foul on Pienaar.

Liverpool will argue whether it was a foul as well as whether it was in the area but Modric stepped up to send keeper Pepe Reina the wrong way from the spot as he confidently extended Tottenham's lead.

A laboured Liverpool rarely looked like adding to their 13 goals in their previous three games as Spurs eased to their first league win at Anfield since August 1993.

25:41 The ball is crossed by Dirk Kuyt, Michael Dawson manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Luis
Suarez from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Peter Crouch.

25:08 A cross is delivered by Andrew Carroll, clearance by Younes Kaboul.

23:29 Foul by Steven Pienaar on Glen Johnson, free kick awarded. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Luis Suarez, Michael
Dawson manages to make a clearance.

22:46 Corner taken right-footed by Luis Suarez from the right by-line, Michael Dawson makes a clearance.

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